PATHANKOT: Punjab Government is committed to ensure welfare of livestock of the state, especially in areas affected by floods. There is no dearth of funds for purchase of medicines, vaccines or other materials required to keep the animals healthy and to protect them from different diseases which could crop up due to inclement weather and water stagnation.
This was stated by Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Mr Rahul Bhandari at a meeting of field Senior Veterinary Officers, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors at Mukerian, while enroute tour to flood affected areas of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot accompanied by Director Animal husbandary Punjab Dr Parmdeep Singh Walia and Joint Director Dr Sham Singh.
While appreciating the Veterinary doctors and other para Veterinary staff , Mr Bhandari called upon the staff to serve the livestock farmers with utmost integrity, sincerity and dedication as this natural calamity was a testing time for the department.
Meanwhile, Dr Mukesh Mittal, Deputy Director of the Pathankot Animal Husbandry Department, shared information about the flood situation, stating that 42 villages in the Pathankot district have been affected, with approximately 5, 000 animals impacted and 125 animals (including cows and buffaloes) and 5, 000 chickens dead.
Since the floods began in Pathankot, the Animal Husbandry Department has formed 8 teams of veterinary officers to provide treatment for animals. These teams are visiting the homes of livestock owners to provide on-the-spot treatment. With the help of NDRF teams, veterinary doctors from the department also visited the villages of Lasain and Kajla, across Ravi river, where around 300 animals have been affected and 45 are currently undergoing treatment.
Dwelling further, he said that the department had provided 150 quintals of feed, 100 quintals of bran, and 20 quintals of silage directly to the livestock owners in the affected villages and is offering free medicines for animal treatment.
Appeal to Livestock Owners and Post-Flood Precautions:
Dr. Mukesh Mittal has appealed to all livestock owners in Pathankot to know that the department is with them during this difficult time. If anyone faces a problem, they can call the helpline number 8847062705.
He also warned that after the floods, animals can be susceptible to various diseases due to flies, mosquitoes and ticks because of stagnant water. These can lead to diseases like Babesia, Theileria, Anaplasma, Skin diseases, mastitis, foot rot, diarrhoea etc.
He also mentioned that with the increased humidity, there is a higher risk of spread of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (Gal Ghottu) for which teams of department had started vaccination. Additionally, he noted an increase in snake bite incidents. He informed that government veterinary institutions have anti-snake venom injections available and are administering them to animals for free.
So far, about 25 animal welfare camps have been held in the flood-affected areas of the Pathankot district, with more planned in the coming days.